No, True Believers, I'm not going to go on about that sham (or fall into the trap that Rush did this week), but rather one that was taking place literally under your very noses while you were being rope-a-doped by Saul Anuzis & Company and his shenanigans (covered very thoroughly here, here, here, and oh yeah, here).

Last Thursday in Lansing, a State Senate Committee held hearings about mandating Michigan Health Insurance providers include Autism Coverage as part of their policies they offer to their customers.

<strike>Not-so</strike> Surprisingly, leading the charge are Senate Majority Leader, Republican Randy Richardville and Republican Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley.

After hearing the testimony from parents who wanted the state to mandate this coverage, Sen. Richardville commented that,"... the spending would be an investment that could help people with autism work into mainstream programs and, eventually, the working world."

The tried-and-true "Investment"-argument.

Remember: Only Government Officials know the best way on how to "invest" your own money. Just sign it over and don't ask any questions.

Apparently, they didn't get that memo telling them that the grassroots want them out of making health care decisions, not adding to them.

And exactly how much "investment" are we talking about here?

Good question.

The SFA tried to crunch the numbers without very much success. Because of the indefinable factors such as exactly who has autism and which plans would and would not be responsible for providing coverage, an exact number was hard to nail down. In their report, they did peg a number at around $255-million.

A follow up hearing is scheduled for this Tuesday, March 6th at 12 Noon.

Ah, to be generous with other people's money.

So much for that part about,"... practicing fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn."

But as they say on TV," But wait! There's more."

Not being content as the gravy train leaves the station for one pet cause, groups like Michigan Partners for Parity, and Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health, also want Lansing (read: the taxpayers) to pay their way and for the treatment of other mental health disorders.

Feeling that generous spirit coursing through his veins again, Sen. Richardville added he is,"wide open to taking a look" at expanding the coverage later.

And as if that weren't bad enough, Republican Senator Mike Green added this about the proposed bills," "We have an opportunity to help real people with real problems. Our job as a Legislature is to solve problems. Let's get it done, done right and get the politics out of it," he said. "The fear of this is that the cost is going to get greater and greater. If there are any no votes, because they believe there is a better way to do it."

This is precisely why I advocated for returning any surplus that Lansing realized after their totally unnecessary tax hiking spree from last year.

Whenever a politician sees that there is any extra money in the till, they always feel the uncontrollable urge to spend it in order to buy good will (/votes?) from Michigan Taxpayers. I've also observed that party affiliation has absolutely no bearing on this premise.

Look, when you have a pet cause that you want to champion and feel so strongly about it, there is nothing preventing Republicans like LG Calley, Majority Leader Richardville or even Sen. Green from getting off of their sorry behinds and doing their part to support the cause. What do you think that people like Jerry Lewis, Danny Thomas and Pernell Roberts have been doing for decades now WITHOUT reaching into the government till?

What does that say when a "celebrity" can accomplish far more for what they really believe in, than a politician who feels necessary to reach into our wallets?